Bees

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many bee inspectors there were in each year since 1996.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The numbers of bee inspectors in England and Wales each year since 1996 were as follows:
	
		
			 Numbers of Bee Inspectors 
			 1996 45 
			 1997 45 
			 1998 44 
			 1999 46 
			 2000 47 
			 2001 47 
			 2002 46 
			 2003 47 
			 2004 45 
			 2005 45 
			 2006 45 
			 2007 45 
			 2008 45 
			 2009 64 (including 4 current vacancies) 
		
	
	These figures include the full-time regional bee inspectors (10 in 1996-98, eight since then) and since 2004 the national bee inspector. The remainder are seasonal bee inspectors and are employed for the active beekeeping season.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jane Kennedy, on 15 December 2008 (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 321W), what the budget is for the Bovine TB Eradication Group for this year and next; and what additional support it receives from Defra.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The provisional forecast budget for the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England for the 2009-10 financial year is £50,000; and the provisional forecast budget for the 2010-11 financial year is £37,000. The difference in the forecasts is due to the expected change in the frequency of meetings: from fortnightly to once a month.
	The additional support provided by Defra includes the contribution from the four Defra members of the group; a co-ordinator to run and organise meetings; and the preparation and input of information and expertise to assist the members in taking forward their work plan. This support is funded from Defra's administration budget.

Children: Nutrition

Baroness Cumberlege: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 18 May (WA 247), what measures they are taking to provide health care professionals (HCPs) with nutritional guidance for children aged between one and two years old, given that Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: One Year On said that they will only provide guidance to HCPs and the National Health Service on the nutritional needs of 2 to 2½ year olds.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Change4Life initiative is currently developing an information toolkit for use by healthcare practitioners, child-focused professionals such as childminders and nursery managers, as well as Sure Start children's centres providing specialist nutritional advice for children aged one to two years old which is to be available by the autumn.
	As part of its ongoing work the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has a Sub-group on Maternal and Child Nutrition which is planning to update the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food report Weaning and The Weaning Diet.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is currently developing a single set of evidence-based messages on healthy eating/nutrition and active play for children under five years old. These will form the basis of clear, up-to-date guidance for health care professionals and early years practitioners to use with parents and will be available by the end of 2009.

Common Agricultural Policy

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what new measures they intend to put into the current Common Agricultural Policy reappraisal negotiations to arrest the decline in United Kingdom food self-sufficiency.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are no current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reappraisal negotiations, but we expect the EU Commission to publish proposals to form the basis of negotiations in 2011 leading to the next EU Budget Financial Perspective.
	Measures designed to address the self-sufficiency of member states within the CAP are only likely to have a detrimental effect on the food security of member states as a whole, who depend on the single market and its global trading partners for a wide diversity of supply. To ensure continued UK food security, our food supply must be reliable and resilient to shocks and crises, and ensuring food security must sit alongside other priorities such as tackling climate change and securing a healthy natural environment.
	Rather than introduce self-sufficiency measures, the Government will continue to work towards radical reform of the CAP in order to enhance the integration of the single market and contribute to the food security of all member states. This will reduce the costs of food for consumers, making trade less distorting and more sustainable; with substantial reductions in the cost to taxpayers.

Cycling

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Cabinet Office is implementing the Government's cycle-to-work scheme.

Baroness Crawley: The Cabinet Office supports the use of green transport and offers an interest-free advance of salary to purchase bicycles and accessories to its staff.

Defra: Staff

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, on 24 February (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 569W), how Defra consultations are analysed; by whom; and at what staffing levels.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Defra analyses responses to consultations in a variety of ways, depending on the policy issue concerned and the nature of information contained in each response.
	Analysis of responses is led by the policy team responsible for the consultation and is carried out by Defra officials, sometimes supported by specialist consultants. Staffing levels for the analysis of consultation responses vary and are determined by the volume of responses and the level of technical detail these contain.

Disabled People: Mobility Scooters

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 3 December 2007 (WA 158), what action they are taking to have the import duty on electric-powered vehicles removed.

Lord Myners: Government Ministers recognise that the tariff classification of mobility scooters continues to cause serious concern for both importers and end users of the products. The work to pursue a resolution is being co-ordinated by officials from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC has met with representatives from the British Healthcare Trade Association (BHTA) and other interested parties as well as officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to discuss the issue.
	Tariff classification matters fall within the competence of the European Community which has set an import duty of 10 per cent for these vehicles. It is the European Commission's (EC) role to ensure uniform treatment of the same goods by agreeing a common EU position and then presenting that unified view. The UK, via officials from HMRC, has made representations to the Commission to have the classification of mobility scooters referred back to the World Customs Organisation. The EC has declined on the basis that current guidelines provide uniformity of classification. In this context it is important to remember that classification experts, both at the European and the international levels, are not influenced by duty rates. The EC has agreed to consider the introduction of duty-free treatment or a reduced rate of customs duty for mobility scooters. In connection with this the EC has asked member states to respond to a UK request for information about any national production. The existence of production in the EU will influence the decision about any future duty reduction. Eight out of the 27 member states have responded so far with some production identified in Germany.
	In a separate development, a Dutch national court has ruled that a mobility scooter should be classified as an invalid carriage at 0 per cent duty. There was some discussion about this ruling at the European Customs Code Committee in September 2008. The EC has now advised HMRC that a draft regulation to confirm the classification of mobility scooters will be presented for discussion and possibly for voting at the next meeting in July 09.

Elections: Northern Ireland Constituencies

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were (a) the total electorate, (b) the number of applications for postal votes, and (c) the percentage turnout in each of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies in the elections to the European Parliament (1) 2004, and (2) 2009.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There is nothing further that I can add to the Answer given on 12 May 2009 (Official Report, col. WA186).

Food: Labelling

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will propose to the European Food Safety Authority a single market in the nutrition labelling, including salt content, of food products.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Government are pressing for mandatory nutrition labelling of at least energy, fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt on most pre-packed foods in negotiations to update European nutrition labelling legislation. The Government are also supporting the European Commission's proposal that this mandatory information may be supplemented on front of pack with additional information that has been proven to help consumers identify healthier choices.

Food: Meat

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, on 23 February (Official Report, House of Commons, 252W), how many fresh meat establishments paid charges in each year from 1995—96 to 2007—08.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The number of fresh meat establishments which paid charges to the Meat Hygiene Service for official controls in the period 1997-98 to 2007-08 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial Year Number of fresh meat establishments which paid charges for official controls 
			 1997-98 1332 
			 1998-99 1346 
			 1999-2000 1317 
			 2000-01 1267 
			 2001-02 1182 
			 2002-03 1190 
			 2003-04 1167 
			 2004-05 1130 
			 2005-06 1093 
			 2006-07 903 
			 2007-08 893 
		
	
	Due to changes in accounting processes, figures for 1995-96 and 1996-97 are unavailable.

Government: 30-year Rule

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their intentions regarding the 30-year rule.

Lord Bach: In October 2007, the Prime Minister invited Paul Dacre, Sir Joseph Pilling and Professor Sir David Cannadine to conduct a review of the 30-year rule. The review team published its findings in January 2009.
	The Government have welcomed the team's findings and have committed to a substantial reduction to the 30-year rule, phased in over time. The Government will issue a detailed response to the review by the summer.

Gurkhas

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances were made to Joanna Lumley after her discussion with the Prime Minister about Gurkhas.

Lord West of Spithead: The meeting that took place between Ms Lumley and the Prime Minister on 6 May 2009 was a private meeting.
	On 21 May 2009 the Home Secretary announced a revised policy for considering applications for settlement from former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Gurkhas

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what, by rank of soldier, were the percentage deductions for pension and other contributions from serving Gurkhas' pay in each year between 1987 and 1997.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Gurkhas who served and retired prior to 1997 (a) paid taxes in the United Kingdom; (b) paid United Kingdom national insurance contributions; and (c) had other compulsory deductions from their pay while serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The Gurkha pension scheme has always been a non-contributory scheme for all ranks.
	Gurkhas who served before 1 July 1997 paid tax only when serving in the UK, and they did not pay any national insurance contributions as they were excluded from the scheme by the Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations 1978, SI 1978 No. 1689.
	There were no other compulsory deductions of a statutory nature from pay. For the minority of Gurkhas who spent time in the UK, 10 per cent was deducted from their pay for their resettlement grant payable at the end of service but their take home pay was still broadly comparable with the wider Army.

Health: Cancer

Baroness Greengross: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the 2003 "Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers" guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be updated to include more detailed recommendations about the care and treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Lord Darzi of Denham: I understand the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has no current plans to review this guidance. NICE is responsible for making decisions on the review of its published guidance, taking account of views from stakeholders.

Health: Complementary and Alternative Medicines

Earl Howe: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications have now been received by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for the registration of products under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; in how many of those applications the registration has (a) been accepted, (b) been rejected, and (c) remained under consideration; and what assistance is given to small and medium sized companies making such applications.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it remains their policy that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency will seek to assist the herbal medicines sector with its efforts to comply with the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicines Directive.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has so far received 70 applications to register products under the traditional herbal registration scheme implemented in line with the requirements of Directive 2004/24/EC. 31 registrations have been granted and the remaining 39 applications are under assessment. To date no applications have been refused.
	A wide range of European guidelines is available for industry, for example on meeting the relevant quality and manufacturing standards. We recognise that moving from a largely unregulated environment into systematic medicines regulation represents a significant challenge for parts of the over-the-counter herbal medicines sector. Accordingly, the MHRA has been running a programme to manage the regulatory impact of the directive. Initiatives have included provision of additional national guidance, workshops and regular dialogue with the industry's Herbal Forum. The MHRA also provides the opportunity for individual companies seeking to register products under the scheme to be given regulatory and scientific advice. The MHRA has no plans to end this advice service, however, our expectation is that, as with any such new scheme, with growing experience, more companies will become confident in operating under these regulatory arrangements.

Health: Contaminated Blood Products

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Darzi of Denham on 20 May (WS 121—22), what meetings have taken place between officials at the Department of Health and the Macfarlane Trust to ensure that the department had the latest data on the number of surviving persons with haemophilia who had been infected with HIV and hepatitis C by contaminated National Health Service blood products.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Departmental officials and officers of the Macfarlane Trust, have met many times in the past to keep each other updated. Most recently, officials met the chairman and officers of the Macfarlane Trust on 27 May 2009.

Health: Contaminated Blood Products

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Darzi of Denham on 20 May (WS 121—22), what assessment they have made of how much it would cost for the provision of life insurance cover for patients infected with HIV or hepatitis C or both by contaminated National Health Service blood products to be at least as good as the provision made in the Republic of Ireland, as recommended by the Independent Public Inquiry headed by Lord Archer of Sandwell.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Officials discussed the general issue of insurance for haemophiliacs with the Association of British Insurers. They advised that it is not possible to calculate the total cost of life insurance provision for patients infected with HIV or hepatitis C or both by contaminated National Health Service blood products as the premiums would vary for each individual and would be dependent on their particular circumstances.
	The position in Ireland is different. The Irish Government set up their hepatitis C compensation scheme, and insurance arrangements, following the finding of a judicial inquiry, the Finlay report, that "wrongful acts were committed". It is important to stress that the blood services in the United Kingdom (UK) have not been found to be similarly at fault. Payments are therefore being made in very different, specific circumstances in Ireland that do not apply in the UK.

Health: Drugs

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have detected any increase in the prescription of rivaroxaban for hip and knee surgery patients in NHS hospitals since the end of 2008.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The information requested is not available.

Health: Non-UK Residents

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 3 June (WA 94), why the necessary data were not collected to allow them to claim reimbursement from Latvia in 2007—08 for NHS services; and what is the sum potentially not claimed.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 3 June (WA 94), why the necessary data were not collected to allow them to claim reimbursement from Lithuania in 2007—08 for NHS services; and what is the sum potentially not claimed.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 3 June (WA 93), why the necessary data were not collected to allow them to claim reimbursement from Poland in 2007—08 for NHS services; and what is the sum potentially not claimed.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The department understands that in the past, individual trusts have not collected necessary data on overseas visitors, as the required infrastructure has not been in place. The department has identified this issue and is currently piloting an improved overseas visitor data capture process in a number of trusts and intends to roll this out across the National Health Service (NHS) in October this year. This will allow the department to claim back for all the treatment provided by the NHS to overseas visitors and allow it to make an assessment of sums that were historically not claimed. Therefore, the department cannot currently assess the sums potentially not claimed.

Home Office

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the reasons for the closure of the Home Office on Tuesday 26 May 2009.

Lord West of Spithead: The Home Office was not closed on Tuesday 26 May 2009.

Houses of Parliament: Members' Expenses

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the alleged statement by HM Revenue and Customs quoted in the Daily Telegraph on 27 May that "MPs are not exempt from tax laws, and tax must be paid on some expenses", parliamentarians must pay tax on benefits in kind.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any legislation under which parliamentarians have received expenses tax-free.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether parliamentarians have always had to pay tax on benefits in kind; and, if not, why.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how MPs' benefits in kind were taxed before the guidance issued to MPs by HM Revenue and Customs in 2005.

Lord Myners: MPs are taxable on the earnings from their position as MP, and, generally, on the benefits and expenses they receive. Certain expenses that they claim, in particular the expense allowance for the costs of overnight accommodation away from their home to enable them to carry out their parliamentary duties, are exempt from tax under specific legislation introduced in 1984 and are therefore not required to be reported to HMRC. Other expense payments are subject to the usual rules on the taxation of employment income. A deduction can then be claimed, again according to the usual tax rules, for expenses which MPs incur wholly, exclusively and necessarily whilst performing their duties as an MP, or for expenses which they have to incur on travelling whilst performing those duties. HMRC updates its guidance to MPs at the start of each new Parliament.

Houses of Parliament: Members' Expenses

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how HM Revenue and Customs differentiates between professional fees related to preparation of tax returns, and any charges for general work related to business affairs, for the purposes of taxing parliamentarians.

Lord Myners: Under the general rules on deductibility of expenses for tax purposes, accountancy fees will be eligible for tax relief where they are incurred for business purposes or are necessary in performing the duties of an employment or office. Fees for the completion of a tax return would not be allowable, as they are incurred to enable the individual to meet their personal obligations as a taxpayer.

Immigration

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons from Pakistan who completed their student courses in the past three years applied to remain in the United Kingdom; and under which type of category of leave to stay or visa.

Lord West of Spithead: It is not possible to provide the information requested as the information is not held centrally. Whilst it is possible to identify the number of Pakistan nationals who have had leave as a student it is not possible to identify which category of leave they have applied for after their student leave expired. The data requested could only be acquired by looking at each individual application from Pakistan nationals over the past three years and to track across all immigration routes. This could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Marine Environment: Gibraltar

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will support Gibraltar's application to the European Court of Justice which challenges the habitat environmental directives which give Spain rights over British waters around Gibraltar on environmental issues.

Lord Brett: As the UK is the only member state competent to propose a site covering British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW), we do not recognise the validity of the site in question. We therefore do not consider that the decision allows Spain any rights in BGTW.
	We are aware that the Government of Gibraltar have applied to the Court of First Instance to challenge the listing of Estrecho Oriental under Commission Decision 2009/95/EC. This is a matter which we take very seriously and we are examining Gibraltar's case in detail to determine what action we might take.

NHS: Prescriptions

Lord Walton of Detchant: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make generic substitution of all medicines mandatory in primary care; and, if not, what mechanism will enable a primary care medical practitioner and pharmacist to ensure that a specific patient will receive a branded prescription, if that is their opinion of the patient's best interests.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The pharmaceutical price regulation scheme announced that, subject to discussion with affected parties, the department will introduce generic substitution in primary care. Initial discussions on this complex issue are taking place with key stakeholders and interested parties.
	Patient safety will be paramount in taking forward the work on generic substitution. It has long been the department's policy to encourage generic prescribing where possible, for reasons of good professional practice and because of the opportunities for more effective use of National Health Service resources.
	However, it has always been recognised that there are circumstances in which it may be clinically appropriate to prescribe a particular brand of drug even where a generic is available if the prescriber considers it essential for the patient to receive that specific product. This position will need to be considered under any new specific proposals made as part of the work on generic substitution.
	Therefore, generic substitution of all medicines in primary care would not be mandatory. Provision will be made to allow the prescriber to opt out of substitution where, in his clinical judgment, it is appropriate for the patient to receive a specific branded medicine. Provision may also be made to exclude certain categories of medicines for clinical reasons in the interests of patient safety.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 1 June (WA 51), whether they will withhold approval for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to receive funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies for its proposed further work on campaigning for a bill of rights if this is seen as inconsistent with the commission's statutory function of providing advice on the scope for a Bill of Rights, which it did in December 2008.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has considered and approved the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's proposal to access external funding from Atlantic Philanthropies. The Secretary of State is satisfied that the proposed projects are consistent with the commission's statutory functions and that the acceptance of this external funding would be in accordance with the terms of the commission's management statement and financial memorandum.

Policing and Crime Bill

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost to date of the Policing and Crime Bill.

Lord West of Spithead: In addition to minimal administration costs there are three full-time members of Home Office staff working on the Policing and Crime Bill team.

Polygamy

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Bach on 28 April (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 106) and his letter of 6 May to Lord Avebury which was placed in the Library of the House, whether a person who is granted asylum in the United Kingdom and who is legally married to more than one person in his country of origin before he was granted asylum is eligible to bring more than one spouse to join him in the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: It is Government policy to prevent the formation of polygamous households in this country. Entry clearance or leave to enter or remain is refused if the applicant's spouse has another spouse living who is, or at any time since their marriage has been, in the UK, or who has been granted a certificate of entitlement in respect of right of abode under Section 2(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1988, or who has been granted entry clearance to enter the UK on the basis of their marriage.
	There are certain exceptions to this general restriction: a spouse who seeks leave to entry or remain if he/she has been in the UK before 1 August 1988, having been admitted on the basis of his/her marriage; or, if he/she has, since his/her marriage, been in the UK at any time when there was no such other spouse living.

Public Bodies

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they encourage bodies in receipt of public funds to publish the salaries and expenses of their senior members of staff.

Lord Myners: In accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual central government bodies are required to publish within their annual report details of remuneration in respect of their senior members of staff. The remuneration report includes Ministers, where relevant, and the management board, including advisory and non-executive members, and requires disclosure of salary, allowances and pension entitlements. Disclosure is not required for the reimbursement of expenses directly incurred in the performance of an individual's duties.
	The answer does not cover banks that the Government own or where the Government have a shareholder interest. As these bodies are classified as public corporations by the ONS, they fall outside the scope of the Government Financial Reporting Manual, and its disclosure requirements. The banks in which the Government have a shareholder interest and whose shares are still traded on the Stock Exchange are subject to the Stock Exchange Listing Rules and the Companies Act, which require similar disclosures to those required by the Government Financial Reporting Manual. The Government have required the banks in which they have a 100 per cent stake to meet the same standard of disclosure.

Public Sector: Contracts

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what appeals are available to local service providers who consider that they have been unfairly excluded by large-scale providers who are successful in bidding for public service contracts.

Lord Myners: Government do not operate an appeals or mediation process for disputes between prime and sub-contractors.
	Work is currently under way to implement the recommendations from the Glover Advisory Committee report, Accelerating the SME economic engine: through transparent, simple and strategic procurement, published in 2008. This work includes a project to encourage prime contractors to advertise sub-contracting opportunities as early as possible and also to ensure small businesses and other firms acting as sub-contractors obtain contract conditions, for example promptness of payment, that are comparable to those applied to the prime contractor.
	Where suppliers feel they have been unfairly treated during a public procurement exercise they can contact the OGC Supplier Feedback Service via the OGC website at www.ogc.gov.uk/procurement_policy_and_ practice_ogc_supplier_feedback_service.asp).

Schools: Secondary Schools

Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many secondary schools of each school type there are in England.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: The information requested is found in the table below.
	
		
			 Total of Secondary Schools in England by School Type 
			 Type of Establishment Description Middle deemed Secondary Secondary Grand Total 
			 Community 160 1703 1863 
			 Foundation 21 693 714 
			 Voluntary aided 28 516 544 
			 Voluntary controlled 22 81 103 
			 Grand Total 231 2993 3224 
		
	
	Source: EduBase 2

Schools: Teachers

Baroness Morris of Yardley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have identified any areas for improvement in (a) current initial teacher training (ITT) provision, and (b) current continuing professional development (CPD) provision.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: Nothing makes as large a difference to the quality of our schools than the quality of teaching, which is why we are focusing on policies that attract more talent into the profession, developing teachers through their initial training and throughout their careers, and encouraging them to work where the needs are greatest. Significant improvements have been achieved since 1997 and we are looking to build on these to achieve our vision for the 21st century school set out in the Children's Plan and the White Paper New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future.
	Research tells us that the quality of recruits is the most important long-term driver of teacher quality. The quality of new recruits is driven by attracting a pool of good applicants through offering an attractive range of routes and implementing effective selection criteria. Research also tells us that effective CPD can improve teaching practice, morale, pupil attainment and motivation. It is on the basis of findings like these that we have given the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) challenging remits to help develop a world-class teaching profession through improved ITT and CPD provision for school teachers and leaders. These remits include the development and implementation of the new Masters in teaching and learning for teachers and development of better arrangements for the collaborative professional development of the school workforce delivered through clusters. The priorities for the TDA and NCSL for 2009-10 are set out in their remit letters from the department and published at www.tda.gov.uk/about/our_remit.aspx?keywords=remit+letter and www.ncsl. org.uk/aboutus-index/about-role-index/about-role-remit.htm respectively.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they regard the St Andrews agreement as an international agreement; and, if so, how it is monitored.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The 2006 St Andrews agreement was published jointly at St Andrews on 13 October 2006 by the British and Irish Governments. The practical changes to the operation of the 1998 Belfast agreement institutions as envisaged by the 2006 St Andrews agreement have been formalised in international law by the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Irish Government and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Cm 7078) which came into force on 9 May 2007 following the restoration of devolution.
	The two Governments, as parties to this agreement, hold each other to account for its implementation. Implementation is monitored through the usual constitutional scrutiny mechanisms. These include scrutiny within each administration and with the relevant legislature holding the executive to account.

St Helena: Airport

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the cost to the Exchequer in (a) financial year 2009—10, and (b) financial year 2010—11, of starting work on the proposed airport in St Helena.

Lord Brett: Costs will vary depending on the contractor's programme. We can not disclose detailed figures for each financial year due to commercial confidentiality.

Taxation

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all taxpayers are taxed equally for benefits in kind; and whether this has always been the case.

Lord Myners: Benefits-in-kind provided by employers to any employee earning at an annual rate of £8,500 or more are taxable and liable to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) unless covered by a specific exemption. This has been the position since 1979.